Ultra-Orthodox party in Israel quits Netanyahu govt over conscription

In a move that could jeopardise Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s grip on power, Israel’s ultra-Orthodox political party, United Torah Judaism (UTJ), has decided to exit the country’s right-wing ruling coalition over a long-standing disagreement related to mandatory military service.

According to Israeli media reports on Monday, six of the seven remaining UTJ lawmakers submitted resignation letters, following the earlier departure of party chairman Yitzhak Goldknopf about a month ago.

A representative for Goldknopf confirmed that all seven UTJ members of the Knesset are stepping down from the government.

The decision appears to have been influenced by Degel HaTorah’s spiritual authority, Rabbi Dov Lando. Degel HaTorah, one of the factions within UTJ, reportedly stated that the move was made in line with guidance from its senior religious leadership, Al Jazeera reported.

In an official statement, Degel HaTorah explained that its members decided to withdraw after consulting with top rabbis and in light of what they described as repeated breaches by the government regarding promises to protect the religious exemption status of yeshiva students devoted to full-time Torah study.

The departure of United Torah Judaism from the ruling alliance would leave Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s coalition with a fragile majority of just 61 seats in Israel’s 120-member Knesset.

It remains uncertain whether Shas, another ultra-Orthodox party in the coalition, will also withdraw. Ultra-Orthodox parties have repeatedly warned they would exit the government over the military draft issue, insisting that a key condition for joining Netanyahu’s coalition in late 2022 was legislation exempting yeshiva (seminary) students from compulsory military service.

Back in June, just ahead of Israel’s conflict with Iran, the coalition narrowly averted collapse after a compromise was struck with ultra-Orthodox parties regarding draft exemptions.

Historically, ultra-Orthodox men have been allowed to avoid military service, which is mandatory for most young Israelis. However, the Supreme Court ruled last year that this longstanding exemption must end, instructing the Ministry of Defense to begin drafting seminary students—escalating tensions between the judiciary, the government, and the ultra-Orthodox community.

 Netanyahu has been actively trying to break the impasse surrounding the proposed military conscription law, a key issue at the heart of the current political crisis.

He faces growing pressure from within his own Likud party to enforce stricter conscription policies, including drafting more ultra-Orthodox men and penalising those who evade service. However, this stance directly conflicts with the demands of the Shas party, which insists on legislation that would permanently exempt its ultra-Orthodox members from military duty.

Netanyahu's government, which came to power in December 2022, is considered one of the most far-right administrations in Israel's history.

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